Lenexa City Council Approves $64M Luxury Apartment Development for City Center

By Gabriel Circiog, Associate Editor

A new luxury apartment project has been approved by the Lenexa City Council for the City Center mixed-use development.

The Kansas City Star reports the $64 million development project, which was previously turned down after a 5-to-3 vote from the planning commission, will go ahead as the Lenexa City Council decided against the recommendation of its planning commission. The commission initially rejected the proposal due to concerns regarding its density and the effect it will have on traffic.

The project, dubbed as the Residences at City Center, will feature a total of 306 units in the first phase, out of which 168 will be one-bedroom apartments and 138 will be two-bedroom units, in four- and five-story buildings. Located on a 28-acre site northeast of 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard, the development is being built by Block Real Estate Services. With an additional 246 units planned for the second phase, the project will end up delivering a total of 552 units targeting young professionals and empty-nesters. The new apartment project will also include covered parking, outdoor fireplaces, elevator access and a center green space.

According to the newspaper, the city community development director, Beccy Yocham, said the council considered the project will fit with the strategic plan for City Center. She also mentioned that the city planning staff recommended its approval.

The City Center project has made significant progress recently after Perceptive Software moved its headquarters there from Shawnee last year. Lenexa approved $11 million in tax increment financing for the $50 million headquarters development and up to 1,000 employees are expected to work there upon completion of the building. Other recent activity at the City Center includes the leasing of office space by B.E. Smith in a four-story existing building. Grand Street Café also announced it was opening on the first floor. Another 20,000-square-foot office and retail building is also planned along with a major civic center which will include a recreation and fitness center as well as an auditorium.